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Topic: B-17M (Read 1207 times)

Plan is using kits in attachment picture. Concept for these is a B-17M (Max). For Europe and Pacific.Minicraft 1/72 B-17 fuselage with Lindberg 1/64 B-17 wings. Revell 1/72 B-26 engines on the wings. Result is all around higher performance B-17. Engines up from R-1820 to R-2800 with four blade props. Tried various B-26 engines. Revell is best fit. Thanks to Lindberg's foresight Boeing upsizes wing 15% to accommodate more engine power, more fuel, more lift.Remaining kit parts must be useful for builds yet undetermined.After last builds model room is a mess. Needs much clean up before starting.

Thanks,,, then here we goNow done first cutting to test fitting.Cut back mounting slats at root of wing to fit into slot on fuselage. Top of wing contour along fuselage wing root is perfect match - Yippee..Unlike C-47H where extended fuselage transition flair into wing rearward. Will do abbreviated version where rear edge of wing goes straight to fuselage like newer B-24 B-29 butt against fuselage without flared in taper. Need to fill-n-fuss that area. Underside vertical mismatch of wing depth is where filling adjustments must be made. Good news is thatz on underside. Keeping away from top side messes.See attached.

What I've done in the past Bill, is to cut a part of the wing root chord out and then move it. Then fill the cut out with card (in white). Here you can see I shortened the wing root chord but you can do the reverse and lengthen it. The thin white strip you see is some card the same thickness as the saw blade. Top pic is as it was, bottom pic modified

After 1/1 hot rod build and other distractions am back on this. Thanks for postings.Looked at B-26 propellers from Frog and MPC, sticking with Revell. Cuz of way three companies parts go together, engine builds are first. Then wings, then fuselage.Revell's bit different B-26 engine mounting approach being mated to Lindberg wing requires labor intensive mods x 4. Hope it all works.More later........

Figured out engine to wing stuff. Is going well.Turns out USAAC specified 20mm tail guns. Boeing had to make 15% increase in tail gun position to accommodate guns and ammo. Same percentage as wing size increase. Changing to 20mm in other positions (increasing size) was not practical as it was to enlarge tail gun position. Sting of 20mm range and hitting power would be nasty surprise for fighters accustomed (if you can call it that) to B-17s twin 50 cals. Result is more survivability.

Attachments show difference in original tail gun position and larger one from Lindberg kit. Found German 20mm metal barrels for tail guns.

Details:Did tail gun position. Made a back plate and 20mm are in place. Lindberg kit does not have clear parts for tail gun.Painted engines, props, interior (green). Prepared wings to accept B-26 cowlings which will not be removable as on B-26 kit.See attachments

Oh dio mio to say it in gentlemanly language; fuselage assembly of MPC B-17G is a bugger. Specially upper turret. Deja vu,,, yup was SOS last time. With 3 hrs Exacto trimming and emery boarding and fitting re-fitting ad nauseam, old memories came to roost. Now its time for pin vise cuz is no hole where directions promise there is. Broke part of plastic over cockpit - another deja vu. Something I wanna check is cutting off chin turret and gluing fixed (non-rotating) to Revell B-17F to designate B-17G. Its rivet finish good match for Lindberg wings like MPC is.Appears polystyrene dragon is nearly slain. Am continuing. Keeping Revell option at hand.Is a newer Revell B-17G kit have not looked at.